i went to best buy the other day and i was checking out the computers. i noticed that there were two computers that looked exactly the same but the price was about $200 different. i was wondering why the price was different if the two computers seemed to be exactly the same. i then noticed that one said mmmmm pentium 4 and the other one mmmm well i don't remember exactly what it said but it was something like ATHLON .....

what i wanted to know is what is the difference between pentium and athlon
if i am going to buy a computer wich one should i buy
pentium... or athlon...?

the difference between pentium and athalon is that they are both different processors. the pentium is made by intel and the athalon is made by AMD. i have two computers with AMD athalon, and one with Pentium, they are both good processors. For general everyday use either are fine. i personally prefer AMD but they are both good chips.
you can research more info on the processer if you google processor info on the intel and AMD
check computer specs again there shouldn't be a $200 difference between the two processors, there might be something else different too.

I prefer AMD over Intel chips anyday. It also depends on teh chip itself. The Intel P4 comes in many clock speeds, fsb speeds, and cache sizes. The difference in the price between the AMD and the Intel is probably the clock speed and other specs. A higher clock speed will usually cost more unless it is dual core, or intel "extreme edition(which is total bogus)".
I would go with the AMD comp just because of my experience with the two processors.

I like AMD chips as well. The best bang for the buck for a system is AMD Athlon.

The only drawback to AMD's is that they tend to run a little hotter than Intel chips. I wouldn't worry about that unless you're going to overclock though ;).

I beg to differ for certain models run hotter than others. I have heard stories of CPU's from both sides running hot. These days it's the P4's that run hot if not hotter.
I run a Athlon 64 3400+ 2.2 Ghz that runs at 129-132F @ 100% load under a OEM heat sink.
I can set the Cool n Quiet speedstepping to underclock the chip to about 1 ghz, where it runs around 81f idle/95F 100%.
Oh and this is all at 75-80F ambient air temp.

A friend has a P4 2.4 that ramps up to 149F @ 100%. Now that's a toaster.

My 3700+ runs at 54c under a load and about 48c idle (roughly 130F and 120F). Thats with the stock heatsink, which I may add has outperformed two Thermaltake sinks....also to note, I have an 80mm case fan in-line with my cpu heatsink, set up in the drive bays...as well as two intake fans on the bottom front, two exhaust fans on the back of the case, and an exhaust fan right above the cpu on the top of the case. Why the fans? I have a load of cards in use, as well as three hdd's....trust me, without those fans, it was real hot ;)
On subject completly now, I would reccomend an AMD for their "bang for the buck."

OT agian, you guys think we got it bad with our chips cooking at 140F, take a gander at the current Apples. They are quite literally cooking themselves at between 70-85C (around 185F peak)! It seems that Apple has been going to some effort to stifle their posts on forums for one skewed reason or another. So i'll stick with what works.

I have an a7n8x deluxe motherboard, 2500+ 1.8ghz Athlon Barton Core cpu overclocked to 3200+ 2.2ghz (45celcius idle 50celcius full load), 512mb pc3200 corsair XMS ram, 80gb WD harddrive, Geforce 256mb fx5500 OC other stuff... 11 fans! Blue florecent light! 2 ajustable fan controllers one for cpu and one exhaust blowhole at the top both 4800rpm max and man is it loud!!! I built it my self has windows xp pro installed. I built three comps for friends all with AMD!!!!!! I dont like pentium!!!! Cost more not as stable. AMD cheap and stable!!!! That's my opinion and everyone I know. In 2003 tests were done on the new AMD chips 64bit hypertransport vs new pentium chips hyperthreading. Amd won by 28%!!! I love PC'S and RC'S!!! :D
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LOL, thats cool. My father runs a 2.8 ghz P4 in his box (web browsing, nothing remotely intensive) and I have a media pc with a 1.6 ghz P4 which I am pretty happy with. To be honest with you, go with whats cost effective. If you can find a good deal on a comp with an Intel chip and can't find one cheaper with an AMD, get the Intel, and vice versa...

heres the real scoop intel chips run hotter than the amd chips however i prefer the intel, consider going dual core they are available in 2 series 800, and 900 800 has 1x1 mb cache while 900 has 2x2 mb cache, i build my computer and i paid 200 for pentium d (dual core) 2.66 mhz dual core (800) series and it works just fine i have ran games music internet even solidworks 2006 using it without a hickup. the computer in the other room has an amd in it and it bites compared to my dual core. it is really a matter of preference though. i would recommend buliding a computer that way you will get exactly what you want instead of getting a "prefab" which you will most likely have to upgrade anyway, with the tower,motherboard,cpu,hard drive floppy drive dvd rom and 1 gig of memory +xp operating system i have 1100.00 in my system and i bought a little at a time. i still have to get a keyboard mouse and a moniter as i am using some from an old computer. build it youi will be happier but do the research befor you buy, get specs on cpu's from the manufacturers websites

The only drawback to AMD's is that they tend to run a little hotter than Intel chips. What are you smoking....? AMD's have run WAY cooler in the last few years than any Intel proc with the exception of the Penitum M/Centrino!

Wow... do some research dude! :)

Wow dude! I own them....I have a 3700 Xp and a 3.2Ghz P4....the Pentium is typically 8 t 10 C cooler. I tried a Thermaltake heatsink on the AMD and the stock cooler worked better. The P4 also had its stock heatsink. I used Artic Silver 5 for compound, and the case and fans were the same in both settings......